Toy theatrical device



Oct. 21 1924.

G. M. MABRY TOY THEATRICAL DEVICE Filed March 21. 1921* 2 Sheets-$hee- 1INVENTOR' Gusir-in Mflnem Mabrl1-.

ATTORNEY G. M. MABRY TOY THEATRI CAL DEVICE Fild March 21 1921Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Gustvine Milner MObIL' ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 21, 1924.

UNITED STATES GUSTRINE MILNER IIIABBY, OF NEW YORK, N.'Y.

TOY THEATRICAL DEVICE.

' Application filed March 21, 1921. Serial No. 453,972.

To all whom it may concern.

'Be it known that I, GUSTRINE MILNER MABRY, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at New York city, in the county of New Yorkand State of New York, have invented certain new and use fulImprovements in -T'oy Theatrical Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a toy theatre which is characterized by theprovision of a proscenium arch in combination with a rotatable stagehaving about its margin a series of scenes which when successivelybrought into display position will portray a play or connectedsequenceof events.

It is contemplated that my invention shall be used in conjunction withsmall phonographic records which will produce the music, dialogue orother sounds neces sary for the interpretation of or as an accompanimentto the scenes, the whole forming a mechanical organization for theproduction of a play'having changing scenes.

It is a further object of my invention to adapt the toy to be collapsed,and, in order that it may be produced at a relatively small cost, Icontemplate so designing the parts composing the toy theatre that theycan all be printed on sheets of paper or cardboard which will beprovidedwith fold lines and interlockingtabs by means of which the whole may besetup and assembled in operating position.

The advantages ofmy invention and its method of construction andoperation will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings which disclose the preferred embodiment of my invention asproduced from cardboard or paper, and in which Fig. 1 is a front view ofthe complete toy theatre.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental detail view in perspective of the rotating stage,omitting the figures and scenery.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of part of a paper blank for forming a sectionof the stage scenes. 1 Fig. 5 is a plan view of the proscenium blank.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the blank for the stage support; and Y Fig. 7is a side elevation of the assembled theatre with the revolving stageremoved and the proscenium broken away. 1

Similar reference numerals refer to s milar parts throughout thedrawings.

The toytheatre as shown comprises three main portions, namely, theproscenium, the

stage support and the rotatable stage. The

the stage opening. The blank from which. the proscenium isfformed isshown in Fig;

5 and is creased to fold along the dotted lines 4:, which line is theline of division. between the wings 3 and the proscenium, and each wingadjacent tothis line offold, is provided with a bottom interlocking tab5 having oneedge cut partway to form a slit 6. One wing 3 at the bottomof its free edge is provided with a side tab '7 with a slit 6 therein. I

The support for the stage and proscenium will be best understood byreference to Figs. 6 and 7, the former of which shows the blank fromwhich the support is made. This blank comprises a center portion 8provided with a central pivot opening 9 and having its forward edge 10struck on the curve substantially conforming to that at which theproscenium proper will be set when in operating position. This centralportion is divided by longitudinal 'weak-.

ened fold lines 11 and a transverse fold line 12 which define about themargin of the" support 8 the side wings 13 and the back wing 14. Theback wing itself is provided with fold lines'll forming continuations ofthe fold lines 11 and beyondjthese fold lines 11 each end of the wing14. is cut to' form an interlocking tip 15. The side wings 13 areslotted at 16 to receive and interlock with the tips 15 when insertedtherethrough after the side and end wings have been folded down at rightangles to the platform 8' and the ends of the wing 14 bent forward onthe'lines 11 This is illustrated in Fig. 7. "One side wing 13 is adaptedto be connected to the wing 3 of the prosceniumwhich is not providedwith atab 7.

The lower wing is provided Wltl1a,11--GX-- tension strip 17 (Fig. .6)which-continues from a fold line 18 at one end of edge 10 and isprovided near the wing: 13 with reversely facing slits 6 and 6. Thisstrip 17 connects as an integral-port withthe' right hand wing 3 (seeFig. 7) having a foldline= 20' at'itsf line of junction, In order toprovide means for cross bracing-the side wings 13' at their-forward endand also to connect the baseto the left hand prosceniuin wing 3 (Fig.5), the'other sidewing- 13 is provided beyond its'fold line 21 with anGXtBDSlOIL-lH llDS with -1ts outer-or bot tomedge-,,- which-extension-1S di vldedby a longitudinal cut into the wings 22- and 23.

The wing 22 has near its ends reverselydi-sposed slits 6 and-6and=thewing -23-has near the renterofuts' inner edge {(Fig. 6)

a shoulder 24:,"the inneredge ofivhich is inline with thefold line'llofthe adjacent wing 13. The free end of the :wing' 23- is provided with aslit 6.

In assembling the proscenium and stage sup )ort, as described, theproscenium wings 3 are bent forward from the fold lines 4 to anappropriate angle-and thetabs-5 are folded back and up 'againsttherearface ofthe wings. Thewings13' of the-support are then foldeddown, the wing 14; is folded to a similar position and its ends folded fabout the rearends of the wings 13' and the locking tips 15 are engaged{in t-he slits 16* to. lock the wings '13- and l in'assembled position.This will bring the-wing '23 in vertical position above the wing 22 andthis wing23 is then folded-at line 19 across at right angles to the'wing 22 and its down turned slit6 will interlock in the upturned slit 60f" thewing 17; thus bracing the forward ends of the wings'lgtogetherand presenting the shoulder 24 in position to form a support acrossthe'center of the forward edge of the platform 8. The wing 22 18inserted between thead a'cent'wing 3 and its tab 5 and the wings downturned, slit 6 is caused to interlock-in the up turned slit, 6 ofsaid-tab, while the upturnedslit 6 at the end of the Wing'22 isinterlocked with the-slit 6 of the-tab 7. In like manner the wing 17' isinterposed behindandinterlockedwith the tab 50f its respective wing 3(see member of cardboard or suitable -ma-- terial having a centralopening for thereception of a pivot pin 26 adapted to work in the centerhole*9 of the'stageplatforni 8 in which position the periphery of thedisk will conform substantially to the curvature of the platform edge10- and of the proscenium and Will move in close juxtaposition to thelatter; This stage is provided with a series of equi-distantly spacedperipheral notches 27 which are disposed radially and spaced on an aresubstantially equal to the arc subtended by the proscenium;-opening 2.As

- shown; there arejfour of "these notches and I. therefore intend tosubdivide the rotary stage into fourstagescenes, but any nun1- 4) whichare adapted to be received in-the stage slots l 27 and to be bent to'interlock th'e outer ends of'the walls- Oto the stage Each center Wall29 is provided on its rear along its bottom edge with a strip 32 whichis pasted thereto 'and to the-stageso as to holdthe'wall 29 'atitscent-er securely in POSllllOll OIl *tl1e='-'St&g8." I provide four ofthese sta'ge'scen'es each simil'arto theoth'er and similarlymountedont-he rotating stage, their center" wa11s29,-:- as seen in Fig. 1,forming a rectangular: square about the center of the stage and theirside walls 30 forming abutting pairs which are interlocked by meansofthe tabs 81-and slots'27 to the margin 'of the' sta ge. On all of thescene Walls may be "portrayed similar 'or'clian ing scenery.Eachscenewall is preferably initially"attached tolthe stage by pastingits attaching strip 32 to the stag'ei'and its walls are folded togetherto overlap each other and the whole is then folded down upon the stageso that'th'e'stage and its scenery can be shipped collapsed. Each rearattaching strip 32, whichl is pasted iii-part to the stage and 'in partto a scene wall 29, pref 'erably carries: a center brace leg 33 whichcan be folded out at right angles to wall 29 so as to engage the stagelike a prop, when the wall 29 has:been folded up to vertical position.

Upon each stage'sc-en'e I arrange figures,

' articles of furniti'ire and the like as may be required for the scene.Asillustrative of this phase-of myinvention the scene portrayed in Fig.1' will com-prisetwo figures mounted on the stage, the figure 34: at theleft representing Little Red Riding Hood and the figure 35 at the rightrepresenting the Wolf. I In I each ca'se these figures are attached bypasted strips 32; similar to 32,

a to the stage and are provided with prop wings 33, similar to 33, thisarrangement permitting these figures to be folded down on the stage forshipment. The other scenes are provided with the figures according tothe different scenes to be portrayed which are mounted in such relationthat as the stage is rotated and the successive scenes presented beforethe proscenium opening 2, there will be a sequence of events which willin a fashion present mechanically a moving picture or automatic changeof scene.

I have not illustrated the phonograph which I contemplate using withthis invention, but it is to be understood any mechanical means may beprovided which will serve to explain or in any way increase the interestof the successively displayed scenes. For instance appropriatephonographic records may be furnished with each set of scenes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A toy theatrical device comprising a stage support, a convexproscenium arch, and

a circular rotatalble stage mounted on said.

support concentric with and juxtaposed to the rear surface of the arch,said stage being subdivided by upright radial walls into a series ofseparate stages, each stage at its outer margin being adapted to occupythe space between the sides of the proscenium arch.

2 A toy theatrical device comprising a stage support, a proscenium archhaving a convex portion between divergent walls, and a. series ofcomplete stages formed by sectors of a circular rotatable stage elementmounted on said support concentric with and juxtaposed to said rear faceof the proscenium and having vertical radial walls which divide theseveral stages and are adapted by juxtaposition to and aligning with thewalls of the proscenium arch to completely define the stage in use.

3. In a toy theatrical device, a proscenium comprising lateral divergentwings and a convex intermediate portion, a stage support connected tothe proscenium and disposed below the proscenium opening, and ahorizontal stage rotably mounted in said stage support and comprising aseries of complete scenes adapted to be moved successively into displayposition behind the proscenium opening and each scene having side wallswhich at their outer ends are juxtaposed to the proscenium wings so asto define the stage.

4. A toy theatrical device, a stage support, a proscenium arch, acircular stage mounted on said support with its peripheral edge inproximity to the sides of the arch and projecting forwardly thereof toform the proscenium stage, said rotatable stage having mounted thereon aseries-of stage settings, each comprising upright walls extendingradially in alignment with the sides of the proscenium arch opening, andeach pair being formed by the outwardly ibent ends of a back wallmounted on the stage.

5. A toy theatrical device in accordance with claim 4, in which the sidewalls of adjacent stage scenes abut and at their outer ends areconnected to the stage in position to brace each other.

6. A toy theatrical device comprising a proscenium with divergent wings,a collapsible box-like support disposed in the rear of the proscenium,interlocking tabs to connect the support to the proscenium and itswings, and a stage mounted on said support, said support comprising across member extending from wing to wing of the proscenium and adaptedto hold the proscenium bowed outwardly, the stage being curved tosubstantially correspond with the curvature of the proscenium.

7. A toy theatrical device comprising, in combination, a prosceniumhaving lateral wings with a bottom tab on each wing and an end tab onone wing, a stage suppoir' comprising foldable interlocking marginalsupports, connecting members at each side adapted to interlock with saidtabs, cross connection for the front end of said marginal stagesupports, and a stage comprising foldable elements forming a stagesetting.

8. A toy theatrical device comprising a proscenium of arcuate form and acircular stage having a circumferential series of ver tically disposedradial and transverse walls thereon forming separate stage settingsoccupying equal sectors of the circle, said sectors subtending an aresubstantially equal to that of the opening in the proscenium arch, theadjacent radial walls of adjacent stages being disposed to abut. andbrace each other.

9. In a toy theatrical device, a proscenium, a circular stage havingradial mar- GUSTR-INE MILNER MABRY. \Vitness:

Jae. H. TAYLOR.

